The Wanganui Chronicle. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4th, 1902. AN AUSTRALIAN WORKER'S OPINION OF AMERICA.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11727, 4 September 1902, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4th, 1902. AN AUSTRALIAN WORKER'S OPINION OF AMERICA.

A young Australian who has gone to the United States for experience, and who has found work in a .big steel and iron works in Chicago (1000 hands) gives in a private letter to a, Melbourne friend some interesting details of the nature of the work there. His experience is scarcely such as to induce an exodus from these colonies. Beginning as an ordinary labourer, he was promoted to be an "under-boss" (over 12 Italians and 3 Poles among the rest), and later to be "night foreman of the yard." His pay as a labourer was about £2 a week; as "under-boss" about £2 9s; as night foreman it is £3. But, he writes', "my pay depends on my hours worked. Take my recent time-table:—

a.m. p.m. Sunday 7 to 6 Monday 7 to 6.30 Tuesday 7 to 7 Wednesday '. 7to 7.30 Thursday 7 to 6.30 Friday 7 to 7 Saturday 7 to 7 Sunday 7 to 6 With each day half-an-hour for lunch. Sunday, of course, is overtime —paid at time and a half. I get 8d an 'hour—and earn it. For board I pay 4dol. 60 cents, (about 19s) for quite good eating." The letter proceeds with some expressions of opinion, which, though they have a flavour of youthful confidence, still are interesting—"America, as American slang has it, is 'It. 1 Lord! what a country it is. From 'Frisco to Chicago we passed through 2000 miles of the grandest agricultural country. That is the secret of the 'It, and America is going to 'boss' the world, if her Government holds, which is a point, mind you, that requires consideration. G (an engineer of educated, and a business American, believes that the Republic is doomed in its present form ; that the revolution will be Woody and terrible; that it will be nominally a, fight of labour against capital, next of State versus State; but more especially a fight of Honesty against Dishonesty, a protest from the better-grounded ancient stock against the i >._.,. , •-»-■... *

foreign riff-raff element, and its descendants. I can form no opinion as to the probability, but this is often spoken of as at least a possibility. If it happen not, English supremacy appears doomed—<and yet I won't believe it." It is, however, the industrial, rather than the political result of his observations which have an interest for the workers of Australia and New Zealand. It may be that', not being an American, but being instead a thoroughgoing Britisher, the writer is inclined to be somewhat unduly critical of things American. Certain it is that he has not formed a very high opinion of the mechanical ability of the workers among wliom he has temporarily cast in his lot. "The statement," he proceeds), "that the American engineering and mechanical industries beat the English pointless is rubbish. She commands such a vast market that it is economical to introduce special tools— which is not so in England, where the home market is small, and tsie foreign market so diverse in its requirements. The truth -is that the ordinary American engineering mechanic would never hold his job in Australia or New Zealand; he can do only one thing, and that not wonderfully well. He drinks less, perhaps; and certainly works steadier 'and longer. But it is this great agricultural country outside that makes all thingsl possible to America. Just get a book of statistics, and read of America's grain, cotton, root crops, cattle, and pigs. If your ideas are not somewhat altered thereby lam astonished. We don't appreciate it. Practically, all! America is one vast farm land, and good land—as good as the best of Australia and New Zealand. Canada is a great country, too, but the cold is "her drawback. The talk of American ability is all rubbish—her requirements call for .certain articles* and her wealth buys them—that's all. Of course, Edison and others have made discoveries more or less original; but no great principle or theory has ever been enunciated, by Americans in any branch of science. America is the wealthiest country in the world by miles, and that is all. Our works, for instance, employ 1000 men, and there is not one striking evidence of any speciali ingenuity or good management. Give Addington workshops, in New Zealand, where I was, the same market, and we would beat tlhem hollow. This sounds iconoclastic., and that is just what it is; but the idol I strive to overthrow is a false one." *Thiis, even though it may be tinged with a little youthful egotism, makes refreshing reading. It is. good to know on the authority of a practical worker, and one whose merit and ability are proven by the promotion he has earned among strangers, that the men who have learned tiheir business in these colonies are more than .capable of holding their own with the artisans of the Great Republic. It is especially pleasing to find a New Zealand workshop singled1 out by an Australian worker as an Sample of superior efficiency and ability. It may be taken for granted that what applies, to Addington applies aliso to Eastown and the other workshops connected with the Government railways; it is also fair to assume that it applies to the private establishments of the colony. Asd yet we have imported thousands of pounds' wortih of x-ailway rolling stock from America!